The feasibility of 1-stop examination of coronary CT angiography and abdominal enhanced CT.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of performing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) with 1-time injection of the agent.CCTA images (right coronary artery, left anterior descending coronary artery, and left circumflex coronary artery) were collected from 20 patients who completed a 1-stop combined examination of CCTA and abdominal enhanced CT (group A), 20 patients who only underwent abdominal enhanced CT (group B1), and 20 patients who only underwent CCTA (group B2). These images were interpreted using the 5-point Likert scale system by 2 experienced radiologists, and abdominal images were observed for breathing artifact. CT value, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and CTDI were recorded and compare among the 3 groups.The difference in image quality of the coronary and total volume of the contrast agent between group A and group B1 was not statistical significant (P > .05). The CT value and SNR in group B1 (CCTA) (CT: 394.65 ±â€Š59.23, SNR: 17.38 ±â€Š4.13) increased, compare with Group A (CT: 360.35 ±â€Š34.16, SNR: 13.76 ±â€Š1.84, P = .03, .01), while CTDI was undifferentiated between group A (17.14 ±â€Š6.20) and group B1 (18.38 ±â€Š9.79) (P = .64). The difference in CT value and SNR at the arterial phase and CT value at the venous phase between group A (abdomen) and group B2 were statistically significant, the CTDI in group A (9.09 ±â€Š1.05) increased, compared with group B2 (8.23 ±â€Š1.33) (P = .03), and SNR at the venous phase in group B2 (12.50 ±â€Š2.43) increased, compared with group A (10.89 ±â€Š2.03) (P = .03).Revolution CT can capture full images and very rapidly switch to the scan mode, enabling a 1-stop axial CCTA and enhanced helical abdominal scan. The 1-stop combined scan resulted in a satisfactory image quality, which reduced the contrast agent dose and simplified the workflow.The 1-stop combined scan allows for the high success rate of the examination, reduces the number of examinations, and decreases the dose and risk of injection of the contrast agent. This would be helpful for patients to obtain diagnostic images in time.

Visceral response to acute retrograde gastric electrical stimulation in healthy human.

AIM: To investigate the visceral response to acute retrograde gastric electrical stimulation (RGES) in healthy humans and to derive optimal parameters for treatment of patients with obesity. METHODS: RGES with a series of effective parameters were performed via a bipolar mucosal electrode implanted along the great curvature 5 cm above pylorus of stomach in 12 healthy human subjects. Symptoms associated with dyspepsia and other discomfort were observed and graded during RGES at different settings, including long pulse and pulse train. Gastric myoelectrical activity at baseline and during different settings of stimulation was recorded by a multi-channel electrogastrography. RESULTS: The gastric slow wave was entrained in all the subjects at the pacing parameter of 9 cpm in frequency, 500 ms in pulse width, and 5 mA in amplitude. The frequently appeared symptoms during stimulation were satiety, bloating, discomfort, pain, sting, and nausea. The total symptom score for each subject significantly increased as the amplitude or pulse width was adjusted to a higher scale in both long pulse and pulse train. There was a wide diversity of visceral responses to RGES among individuals. CONCLUSION: Acute RGES can result in a series of symptoms associated with dyspepsia, which is beneficial to the treatment of obesity. Optimal parameter should be determined according to the individual sensitivity to electrical stimulation.